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Food Security in Post-Quake Japan

The world’s focus since last Friday has rightly been on the
post-earthquake efforts in Japan. For the past few days, most attention has
been directed to the troubling situation at Japan’s nuclear power stations.
While we have been closely monitoring that situation, we have also been curious
about the food situation which appears to be getting far less attention – at
least here in the United States – but seems just as urgent.

Here is some useful information that I was able to dig up. First,
the Japanese government has been closely monitoring the food situation. Much of
the work in securing and distributing adequate food supplies is being
coordinated by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). MAFF
set up the Earthquake Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters to deal with the
crisis which has held nine meetings since the disaster, according to the
briefing summaries of each meeting that were released on their website.

As a long time ally of Washington, the United States must
take strong actions to ensure Japan has
adequate food supplies. So far, the work of the U.S. military and aid agencies
has been commendable. Already, the United States has
delivered seventeen tons of food, water, blankets and other relief supplies,
according to The Washington Post. As
Japan continues to recover, the United States should offer sustained assistance
to ensure that the country can meet its needs. Public attention will likely be
diverted in the coming weeks, but the Obama administration should make sure its
attention continues to focus on ensuring that Japan recovers strongly from this
tragedy.